About the Author

Read a New York Times profile about Charles Portis, which describes his eluding of public life and his writing's characteristic deadpan humor: "Mr. Portis evokes an eccentric, absurd world with a completely straight face. As a result there are not a lot of laugh-out-loud moments or explosive set pieces here. Instead of shooting off fireworks the books shimmer with a continuous comic glow."

Six-Gun Tarot, by R. S. Belcher - if you like a little Weird in your West, try this thriller that combines supernatural elements with a classic Western atmosphere. If you like this one and are ready for more werewolves in your Western, try The Guns of Santa Sangre, by Eric Red

Cheyenne Autumn - John Ford's last Western, this 1964 epic portrays the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878-9, and the mistreatment of Native Americans during that time.

Dances with Wolves - Based on the 1988 novel by Michael Blake, this film garnered many awards in 1990 and revitalized the Western genre. Kevin Costner plays a Union soldier who becomes involved with the Lakota Sioux when he is stationed at a frontier outpost.

Django Unchained - A recent take on the classic trope of revenge and adventure with Western flair, Quentin Tarantino directed this ultra-violent 2012 award winner.

The Searchers - In this 1956 classic, John Wayne is an ex-Confederate soldier searching for his niece, who has been captured by Comanches.

Shoot Out - Gregory Peck stars in this 1971 tale of an outlaw saddled with the responsibility of looking after a feisty orphan girl. Made by the same team that made the 1969 John Wayne version of True Grit, and features many of the same locations.

Unforgiven - In 1992, Clint Eastwood re-examined the romanticization of the Western film genre with this Academy Award Best Picture winner about an aging outlaw asked to kill again.

Television Series

Justified - based on stories and characters from Elmore Leonard, this series features US marshals in modern-day Kentucky.

Documentaries

The Real West - This eight-part documentary series brings to life the most legendary cowboys and notorious outlaws of America's western frontier.

Wild Horse, Wild Ride - This documentary tells the story of the Extreme Mustang Makeover Challenge, an annual contest that dares 100 people to each tame a totally wild mustang in order to get it adopted into a better life beyond federal corrals.